February 17, (THEWILL) –The Defence Headquarters has stated that the morale of the Nigerian contingent to the Invictus Games in Canada remained high despite the refusal of the Canadian embassy to grant visas to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and seven key athletes.
THEWILL earlier reported that National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, had on February 13 criticized the Canadian government for denying visas to General Musa.
Speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), Ribadu expressed his displeasure, declaring that Canada “can go to hell.”
In a statement on Monday, Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, clarified that the military was officially invited to participate in the Invictus Games with a team comprising three officers and 21 players, including a physiotherapist.
He noted that the Invictus Games Foundation provided accommodation and feeding for all participating nations. However, visa denials affected the full composition of Nigeria’s team.
“Despite our best efforts, only 14 members of the team, excluding the team leader, captain, and physiotherapist, were granted visas. Regrettably, seven of our athletes who had the potential to excel were denied entry, preventing them from competing,” Gusau stated.
He, however, praised the resilience of the Nigerian contingent, noting that their outstanding performance earned the country gold, silver, and bronze medals, securing Nigeria’s place on the global stage.
“The absence of the Chief of Defence Staff at the Games was a missed opportunity, as his presence would have provided additional motivation for the troops. General Musa has initiated several morale-boosting efforts for service personnel who risk their lives in the line of duty,” he added.
Gusau further revealed that the Invictus Foundation Centre, the first of its kind in Africa and currently under construction, is part of these efforts to provide care and psychological support for wounded personnel.
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